The state's high-speed rail project, which someday may link San Francisco with Los Angeles, has "gone nowhere" along with other projects across the country on which "nearly $11 billion" has been spent since 2009, according to the New York Times.

China and Europe still have more trains, and more faster trains, the newspaper reported.

California's train project is likely to cost $68 billion. Despite backing from Gov. Jerry Brown, who was still attorney general when voters approved the project, as well as support from Washington insiders who still think California has the best shot at being the first state in the nation to have a bullet train, there's still no train and plenty of controversy, the newspaper reported.

An initial legal challenge was thrown out, but landowners and others are likely to continue fighting.

But California is better-off than elsewhere: tracks are being built and vendors for train cars have been notified to put in bids in the Golden State, whereas other states have canceled projects entirely.

Private companies may build lines in Florida, where the governor canceled a project in 2011, and in Texas.